The consultant anaesthetist who established a support group for autistic doctors

Abstract

Consultant anaesthetist Mary Doherty talks to Kathy Oxtoby about being autistic and being a doctor *Print headline* Role model: Mary Doherty When Mary Doherty was diagnosed as autistic in 2013, in her mid-40s, “looking back it explained so much of my life.” “But the question then was, ‘Can you be autistic and be a doctor?’” says Doherty, a clinical associate professor at University College Dublin School of Medicine, and a consultant anaesthetist at Our Lady’s Hospital, in Navan, Ireland. She connected with the autistic community, both online and in person, but couldn’t find any other doctors. “I recognised we needed a community space for doctors who are autistic.” Doherty started Autistic Doctors International (ADI) as a Facebook group in 2019 (https://autisticdoctorsinternational.com). It now has around 1200 members worldwide and hosts WhatsApp groups, as well as online and in-person meet ups. “We’re not just a peer support group—we are a vibrant community of colleagues and friends,” Doherty says. ADI is involved in advocacy, training, and research, “spreading knowledge and awareness …